It is a very good feeling

When you realize your child can read. And that YOU taught them. Dillon is reading much better at this age than Matthew was. Which is strange because Matthew started out way more advanced. Before this year started, Dillon couldn't even recognize his letters. If you'll recall, I was certain he must have some learning disability, because no matter how hard I tried, he just wasn't getting it. And now...he's a reader!!! How awesome!
Now to get to work on Collin!

Multi-tasking has never been my strong point

I just realized that I have way too much stuff going on in this head of mine!
While I'm not actually physically doing a lot of stuff I am constantly thinking about the following things
~what curriculum we are using for the kids next year (this is a huge issue for me every year)
~VBS!!! Everything about it, will we have enough money? enough helpers? am I doing enough? Will it all get done in time? What do I need to be doing today?
~being a slacker family member....must get to the post office
~finishing this years school work
~what do I need to get before my kids head to camp? will Dillon wet the bed at camp? if so, will he be teased? Will Matthew be ok with out Dillon? (he originally said he didn't want to be with him, but once I sent the stuff in, he panicked a little when he realized he won't be able to be with Dillon, at all)
~I have to schedule Zachy's cardiologist appt, but they aren't scheduling in June yet...must remember to call back next week.
~how am I going to get back on the weight loss track?
~how am I going to afford a new camera?
~how are we going to swing starting Adventurers AND Pathfinders? Is it possible? If not, which do we do?
Those are just some thoughts I have going on right now. And I know, much of it is trivial, and it isn't like I'm worrying about it(like the camp thing, totally not worried about it, they will be fine) it is just a thought floating in my head.
I am so ready for this school year to be over. And VBS. It is so much more stressful than it would be if we had some money in the budget for it! This will be the first time this church has had VBS in this building. It is across the street from a huge housing complex. We will blanket it with flyers. Which adds more stress, how many kids to plan for?? Next year will be easier, we will have VBS in the budget, and we will have an idea of how many people will show up. Although, I could screw this up royally and they could easily say that there is no way they will ever let me lead VBS again. Matt noted last night, that I am not leading any of the classes. I personally, don't think that is my job. I have to take care of making sure everyone knows HOW to lead their classes, and I have to recruit all the workers, and I have to do all the behind the scenes stuff, like getting it on the radio, and getting these flyers out, etc. I think that is fair. I have to make sure things run smoothly whilst VBS is actually happening. Am I wrong? Should I be teaching a class? There are enough leaders to do them, but did I do bad? *Sigh*
What was I thinking when I agreed to do this??? UGH!!!! OK, just this one time, then I will feel empowered, and I'll be able to do it next year. It's just this first time is a killer!!!

More Dillon funnies

We taught the kids how to play Clue this weekend. It is really great reading practice for Dillon and they really have to think.
Anyway, at one point, Dillon was looking at something on his pad, and it was taking him forever. We asked what was wrong and if he needed help. He said, "I just can't find Mrs Cluck" We all laughed and told him her name was Mrs Peacock, not Mrs Cluck.
He also can never remeber Miss Scarlet's name. He calls her Miss Garlic. And you have to picture him saying it in a totally snobbish voice, he'll go, "I'd like to make a discussion(that's funny too,cause it is supposed to be suggestion), I think it is Miss Garlic, in the conservatory...with the POISON!!" He is so dramatic when he says it all, and he sounds so funny. I wish you could hear it, but alas, that's the internet.

Phooey

We went to Sea World today(and boy was it HOT). Had a good time. But as we were loading the car, our camera got dropped. Now it isn't working. :-( I am so so sad.
It is our digital. We have a regular one, but that one doesn't work either, so we've been relying on our digital. Now, we have no working camera. Which, isn't a good thing in this family. We have some big expenses coming up too, so it isn't like I can just go buy a new one. Start clicking those ads up top, help my get a camera!! LOL

These things must only happen in my house

or not....
the other day I opened my sock drawer...to find 5 cheetos. I don't know when the last time we had cheetos in the house was. Which tells you how long it's been since I wore socks.
~*~*~*~*
Yesterday, I worked my tail off, and cleaned my house, top to bottom, I even mopped. I hate mopping.
Shortly after I was done, Zach got in the fridge and broke all the eggs on the floor. Guess it wasn't clean enough!
~*~*~*~*~
We also had an entire Icee dumped over in the freezer today, while it was being put in by little hands. Such fun to clean up!

Dillon, my boy, cracks me up

Conversation between Dill and me
Dill~I wish I didn't have freckles
Me~Why is that? I love your freckles.
Him~Because all of the girls like me, because of my freckles. (SO SERIOUSLY)
Me~yep, some day you will like that
Dill~well, I don't, and I wish I didn't have them so that they didn't like me. ALL the girls like me!
Me~trust me on this, someday you'll be glad
Dill~ (grumbling)no I won't, I hate my freckles!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Learning the books of the Bible, he cannot figure out that Lamentations is LAMEN-tations, and not Lemon-tations

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the car, the boys have taken to reading their Bibles. They say, "tell me a verse, and I'll read it to you"

So, John 3:16 it was. Dill says, "I know that one! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only FORGOTTEN son....."

I'm stuck in the 90s

I started scrapbooking in 1998.
Back then, you were quite limited to stickers. There weren't all the fun embellishments there are today.
I want to scrap our Disney trip...badly. Yet, I'm so stuck. I want to do these new techniques, but I don't know how.
There's all sorts of fun stuff these days, and yet I'm stuck with STICKERS! So sad. For one thing, all the new stuff is $$$$$...but still, I like it.
My best friend is coming here in June. She started scrapping when she came to visit me after Z was born. She had never scrapped before. Now she teaches classes. She does absolutely awesome work, and I'm a bit envious.
She knows when she comes, that she must bring all her scrapping supplies so she can teach me...and yank me out of the 90s!!

Mercyme

I added Mercyme's new song "so long self"...it takes awhile to load, but I love love LOVE this song. I love the line, "this life is not about me apparently"
So true! Enjoy!

Random pictures

The weekend before my surgery, we went to the zoo. We'd never been to this zoo. It's alright. Definitely not the best we've been to, but better than none I guess.
These are just some random pictures we took

This is my adorable Collin. The kid is so funny. I love him so much. He is always acting so silly. I told him I wanted to take his picture and to say cheese!



This is one of our guinea pigs. Illustrating the fact that we saw capyburas at the zoo, you know...the giant guinea pigs. LOL



I always have thought this is a type of spanish moss. I could be wrong though. But it is funny stuff. It falls off the trees looking just like this. Matthew is absolutely terrified of it, and Dillon carries it and chases him with it. It's quite funny, because hello...it's moss. Matthew is just sure it is something gross though.



One of the boys took this picture of the grizzly bear. Doesn't he look so sad? Like he's saying, "please....let me out!"



My favorite guys!!

A jar of what?

I was just collecting my little ones from the neighbor, and as I was taking mine out, their little girl came out too. So I asked the dad if he wanted me to keep the door open, or close it. He said to leave it ajar.
This took me straight back to my childhood.
We owned a fancy schmancy Chrysler New Yorker. It talked to you in a robotic voice. We named the voice James, and would always talk back to him.
Well, having children, the most common phrases he ever said were, "please, fasten your seat belt" and "a door is ajar"
My sister and I would always say, "a jar of what? peanut butter?"
We were such goofballs, and it made us laugh.
So when he said, 'leave it ajar' I wanted to say, 'a jar of what? peanut butter?'

How will she survive??

That's what you will be asking yourself in a minute.
Yesterday's high was 98. Not sure what it was with the heat index.
Currently, it is 85, but it feels like 98. The actual high is supposed to be 99 today, so with the heat index already so high...how will it feel?
And so the question is...how will I survive?? Thank goodness for A/C!!
I don't like extreme heat (really I don't like the 90s) and I think it is a cruel joke that I live in Texas!!

I should not have been so hard on the military

In my panic, I was awfully hard on the military medical docs. And the reality is...a civilian doc screwed me up, a military doc fixed me. I was so wrong to doubt them.
I have also been thinking about the fact that God's timing is perfect. If this was discovered while we were on the outside, we would be facing a hefty medical bill right about now. Instead, you the faithful taxpayers, paid for my surgery. Thanks! :-) And while I'm thanking you, thank you also for my house, and my food, and everything we use every single day to live, and even the things we play with! We couldn't survive without you!! :-)

The numbers

I had Matthew almost 10 years ago.
In those 10 years I have been pregnant for 3 years and 8 months.
I have breastfed for 5 years and 7 months. In the past 10 years I've been breastfeeding more than not. Wild.
I've gained 160 pounds (wow that sounds so bad!! but it was while pg) and lost 110 pounds.
OK, I can't think of any other strange numbers that are absolutely meaningless!!

And since the water still isn't boiling...

I will write to say that I am feeling MUCH better. I am off all pain meds and so am not nearly as tired.
One week makes a big difference.
Now I do have a question. Could I take a sleep aid? I mean, just for one night. I hear the ads about waking up refreshed! Since Zachy isn't in our bed anymore, and waking me up all throughout the night, I'm having a hard time sleeping. Isn't that just crazy? My body is just used to waking up. But now, everyone is sleeping through the night, and I would like to also.
I crave just one full night sleep, so that I can wake up nice and refreshed....like I haven't in oh...about 10 years!!
What do you all think??

Disconnected

I have so many thoughts rolling around in my head that I want to get down, and yet, I never feel like writing. Nothing of great importance, just stuff I feel like blogging about.
But this topic has been floating for awhile, and while I wait for the water to boil, I figure I'd write it down.
It is amazing to me, just how quickly we become disconnected from other people.
For awhile, when we moved here, I didn't think I could handle being alone. And yet, here we are, almost a year later, and we are fine.
However, in that year, our familial relationships have slipped further and further away. It is sad, really.
It isn't uncommon for weeks to pass in between talks with my in-laws, and by in-laws I mean mother and father. I think the last time I talked to one of my sisters-in-law was back when her mom passed in January. How can that be? But it is true. The other one, I talked to last weekend, but that is because she had a question for us. Before that, it had been weeks, maybe even months.
I honestly have no idea when the last time I talked to my dad was. It's been months and months. He is a traveler, and so I have no idea if he is even in the country right now, or not. Probably so, I'm just saying, it's been awhile.
My sister says I can't go a day without talking to her, but she is going back to work soon, so that will all change. We will go back to months passing in between talking. I have only seen a few pictures of my new niece.
Speaking of nieces, I have only seen a few of my other niece who was born in August.
I do talk to my mom. Probably because she doesn't have a job, so it is easy to time calls to her.
Distance does that to people. And part of me thinks I have a big part to do with the distance, by having this blog. Everyone in our family, knows all the details of what is going on in our lives, and yet I couldn't tell you a single thing that is going on in theirs.
Am I blaming anyone? Heck no. We are all to blame.
I mean, even though I talk to my mom, I completely forgot her birthday this year. And I have my nephew's birthday present sitting here waiting to mail. His birthday was in April.
But even though our families read my blog, you will only see the occasional comment from them. My grandma is faithful in emailing me after every time she reads. That is nice. At least I know I'm not boring her to tears!
I realize that this is sounding like a guilt trip, and I so don't mean it that way. Like I said, I am as much to blame as everyone else. I could certainly do a better job of shooting out the occasional email or calling everyone.
Yet, life gets in the way. We get busy, and the little things go by the wayside.
We are alone here. Thank goodness we have our family to keep us busy. And I am becoming very aware of the importance of a church family.
At any rate, I don't know why I'm rambling on about this, it is just interesting to me, just how quickly you become totally disconnected from people you once used to know current details about.
I must do better.

*yawn*

I feel pretty good today. My head is foggy. I can't, for the life of me, remember if I took an ibuprofen this morning, but I don't think I did. I remember thinking that I was going to, but I don't think I actually did.
I wish my head wasn't foggy. I wish my eyes could focus on something without the rest of my line of vision being blurry. I just feel odd.
I'm not in much pain at all. Every once in a while the boys will somehow push on my belly, and that hurts, but that's about it.
I'm just so so tired. Physically drained.
I can't wait for this to pass. I'm itchin to get a full days worth of housework done, and not be so drawn to the couch for a little rest. Maybe by next week.
Maybe I'll just sleep the weekend away.
Matt leaves on Monday for Denver, so I guess I will be forced to do all the care taking, that could be very very good for me.
But for now...*yawn*

The rest of the crew

Everyone else is doing well. We had some sickies last week, but no more.
We had a good time at the zoo on Saturday and Sea World on Sunday.
Matthew was supposed to have a tooth pulled yesterday, but freaked out too badly. Now they will have to do it under general anesthesia. Poor thing!!

Something happened in the process

When I went in to surgery they told me I wouldn't be able to nurse Zach for 24 hours.
We decided it was time to actively wean.
I know this is making some lactivists shake their heads in shame. But that's ok.
We nursed for 33 months, that is something to be proud of.
Zach has had no problems. He has asked to nurse just a couple times, and has been content to scamper off and do something else when I tell him I have owwies.
It is a bit sad to see this part of our relationship go. He truly is a big boy now....now to get him out of diapers! ;-)

Sorry if this is a repeat

Apparently, I didn't explain my situation very well, because I've gotten several emails from people asking about the IUD incident. So let me try to clarify it better.
Six weeks after Zach was born, September 2003, I had a Mirena IUD placed. It hurt too bad going in, and I knew something was wrong. However, I figured it was because I truly never wanted it in the first place. It was just something I did. I made a big bad mistake that I regret. It caused me severe abdominal pain and much vaginal bleeding. It was put in on a Thursday.
By that Tuesday, I decided it was time to go to the dr. I could never feel the strings, but thought that due to all the bleeding, maybe they were just hard to find or feel.
When I went to the dr, they confirmed that there were no strings, and did a transvaginal ultra sound to see if it was still in my uterus. They decided it was no longer in my uterus, and had fallen out. The pain, they told me, was because my uterus was infected. They offered to put another one in, which I vehemently declined.
Fast forward to this year. Many problems with ovarian cysts and very irregular menstrual cycles. I went to a dr in September of 2005 who informed me that all my troubles were from nursing, and as soon as I weaned Zach the troubles would go away. I questioned whether it was possible for the IUD to still be in my abdomen. She laughed and said no.
By April, I was having a 7 day period every other week. As you will recall, I was also dealing with another cyst. I finally made an appointment and was seen.
The doc I saw this time decided to fully check me out. She ordered loads of blood work. When I told her that I always felt there was still an IUD floating around in my body, she chuckled, and said it was highly unlikely, but she would order an x-ray to be sure.
The x-ray revealed the IUD, which they suspected was in place, in my uterus. But since x-rays can't see organs, they weren't totally sure. I, however, at this point was certain it was not in my uterus.
On Monday, they sent a scope into my uterus through my cervix to discover it wasn't there. So they proceeded to do a laproscopy to try to find it. This is when they discovered it was embedded in my colon.
We are certain now, that it perforated my uterus when the doc was inserting it, which is why I never felt strings.
This literally, could have killed me. A loose IUD can so some major organ damage. The Mirena IUD is plastic with a vial of progesterone on it. In place, the hormone is supposed to be emitted but stay locally in the uterus. This doesn't make much sense to me, but whatever. The dr told me that I was getting a much higher dose of progesterone due to it flowing through my blood stream. Having it out, should straighten my hormones out. I hope so.
So there you have it, the whole long story. Sorry to bore you!

Still alive

I'm still alive. I feel surprisingly miserable. I figured a few incisions on the belly would be no big deal. But between the pain and being nauseous...ick.
Anyway, the IUD was embedded in the fat the surrounds the colon. Lovely.
Here are a few pics.

They spot it with the camera.



working on getting it out



Almost out.



Everything went fine and I am pleased to report that the stupid thing is out of me...for good. NEVER AGAIN.
I'm off to go lay down...